Level 7 Senior Leader in Healthcare (Leading to MSc & EGA)

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject and at least three years’ experience at a professional managerial level (ideally in the healthcare sector) or as a senior clinical lead. 

There is a requirement from the Education and Skills Funding Agency that apprentices hold a level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics.

If an applicant does not hold GCSE's (C /4 or above) in English and Maths or cannot evidence these or equivalent qualifications, they should be willing to work towards Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications prior to Gateway.  

For more information about how we support Functional Skills, click here.

Alternatively, a minimum of five years’ management experience would be considered if no prior degree is held.

Applicants will be in a role that supports the gathering of evidence required for the Senior Leader apprenticeship ‘standard’.

Individual employers may set additional selection criteria in discussion with the University.

Applicants must also have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.

How to apply

Selection to this programme is made by employers; candidates will already hold a post with an employer and continue working for them throughout the duration of this apprenticeship. Candidates will need to speak to their HR department and/or manager to gain sign off to undertake this apprenticeship.

Once an employer agrees to the apprenticeship, candidates will then be required to undertake an application for the University. If successful, they will be offered a position. A place will be confirmed by us, and we will send further information about how to enrol.

Funding

Full apprenticeship (and PgDip) cost: £14,000 covered by apprenticeship levy

The additional module for the MSc in Healthcare Leadership & the NHS Leadership Academy Award in Senior Healthcare Leadership, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson must be self-funded or funded directly from your employer at the cost of £2,750. This optional module will not be covered by your employer’s apprenticeship levy.

This apprenticeship (PG Dip) is entirely funded through an Employers’ Apprenticeship Levy. Your employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship (PG Dip), apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. As an apprentice you will be an employee of your organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.

Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.

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Course content

From the beginning of the programme, you will consider the needs of patients and service users as the keystone to your leadership development.  You will explore and reflect on contemporary theory and practice, using these to build your own evidence-based approach to leadership which is both adaptive and responsive to the wide range of leadership situations that you will encounter at team, organisation and system level.  In so doing, you will be laying down skills for your career which will enable you to get the best from those you lead, and yourself, in a way which is effective, sustainable and compassionate.

Whilst this programme originates from within the NHS, this is not its sole focus, and therefore it is equally applicable to leaders from the Social Care and Private sectors.  You will benefit from the multi-disciplinary, interprofessional discussions with fellow students from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and these are instrumental in helping you to construct your leadership thinking.

Throughout this course apprentices will:

• Explore contemporary leadership and management practice through the unique opportunities offered by the apprenticeship scheme, thereby acquiring leadership knowledge, skills and behaviours which can then be applied directly into a health and social care setting.
• Critically analyse key aspects of strategy, innovation, improvement, change, enterprise , risk, finance, workforce development, and developing collaborative relationships.
• Develop and demonstrate cogent leadership behaviours such as leading by example, appropriate judgement and challenge, courage, curiosity and valuing diversity, thereby creating a positive organisational culture and psychological safety.
• Develop compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership behaviours to inspire the development of world-class care that is ethical, innovative and sustainable.
• By the end of the programme the apprentice will be equipped to manage ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity, and to lead their teams and organisation in coping with these challenges.

Learning

Approximately 20 per cent of an apprentice's contractual working time will be given over to study. Our model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and workloads. No weekly day-release is required, ensuring maximum flexibility for apprentices in demanding health and care roles.

The blended learning format incorporates:

• 18 Masterclass days on campus in Exeter spread over the programme
• Self-directed study through the University of Exeter’s Electronic Learning Environment
• Lectures, case-based discussions
• Simulation and problem-based learning
• Seminars, webinars
• Interactive workshops with group discussions
• Group tutorials
• Peer-supported Action Learning Sets
• Personal reflections in writing and during Progress Review Meetings

Our dedicated partnerships team liaise closely with employers throughout the programme; apprentices will each have an assigned academic mentor to support and guide them throughout the whole course of the apprenticeship.

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Employer information

This programme is designed for aspiring or established leaders in any health-related discipline, including General Practitioners; hospital clinicians from any specialty; nurses; allied healthcare professionals; non-clinical NHS managers working in hospitals, primary care or the community setting; managers from the social care and voluntary sectors; and health and care commissioners.

Now more than ever, the UK needs the highest standard of patient-focused care. The sector needs senior leaders who aspire to have significant responsibility and influence, and who can foster learning organisations with positive cultures that interact productively, ethically and sustainably with the complex adaptive system that is health and social care.  

Careers

Successful graduates of the programme will have positive impact in their organisations.

Apprentices will lead change in an inclusive and strategic way, will have a clear focus on achieving the diverse goals of their organisation, and be capable of influencing at high levels within their organisation.

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